Question

'Biogas is produced by the fermentation of biodegradable wastes'. Mention any two disadvantages of using biogas.

Answer 1

The term "biogas" refers to a collection of gases produced during the anaerobic breakdown of organic materials such as food waste, plant residue, municipal rubbish, and agricultural waste. Biogas is composed of methane, carbon dioxide, moisture, and trace amounts of hydrogen sulphide.

Disadvantages of Biogas:

1. Not efficient when used on a wide scale: Because it is difficult to improve biogas efficiency on a large scale, it is not financially feasible.
2. Impurities: Even after several purification processes, there are still many impurities that are difficult to control. When compressed biogas is used as fuel, it causes extensive damage to the container.
3. Unstable and dangerous: When methane is exposed to oxygen, it violently reacts to generate carbon dioxide. Methane is extremely combustible, making it prone to explosions.